Ribbon-feeding mechanism for type-writing machines.



No. 738,935. PATBNTED SEPT. 15, 1903.

W. E'. PIKE, JR. l RIBBON EEEDINE MEGEANISM EOE TYPE WRITING MACHINES. APPLIAUATION FILED NOV. 21, 1902. A

No MODEL. 2 sHEETs-SEEET 1.

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No. 738,935', PETENTEE sEPT.-I5, 1970s.

- W. E. PIKE, JB. l EIEEoN EEEDING MEoEANIsM PoE TYPE WRITING MACHINES.-

I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1902. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SBEET 2-.,

attenua:

*,NITED STATES,

Patented September 15, 1903.V4 i

PATENT OFFICE..

WILLIAM H. PIKE, JR., OF ST. LOU-IS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PIKE ADDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

RIBBON-FEEDING NlECHANlSlVl FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,935, dated September 15, 1903.

Application filed November 2l, 1902. Serial No. 132,300. (No model.)

T 1f/ZZ whom, t petty concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PIKE, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new 5 and useful ImprovementsinRibbon-Feeding Mechanism for Type-Printing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionv relates to ribbon-feeding mechanism for type-printing machines; and to the object of the invention is to provide means by which the ribbon may be kept nnderv constant tension and which will automatically reverse the feed of the ribbon when either spool ceases to rotate, as will be fully i5 described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan'view of the ribbon-feeding mechanism and a portion of a platen. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is zo an end view of Fig. 2 lookingin the directio of the arrow,

The ribbon-spools 603R and 603L are mounted at different heights atthe outer sides of two separated side plates 500R and 500i, respectively, the ribbon being guided by two quarter-turned rolls 655 across the printingline above the platen 880, and the rolls 655 being mounted in brackets 614, secured to the side plates. Means are provided for fric- ;o tionally resisting the rotation of the spools, the lower spool being attached to a shaft 646 and' the other mounted on a stud 640, which turnsin a bushing 641, fixed to the plate 500L, and this stud has on its inner end a nut 642, and between the nut and the plate 500L is a at spring643, a. steel disk or washer 644, and a ber washer 645, the washer providing a nonabrading friction-surface. The steel disk and'spring are constructed to turn'with 4o the stud, and the nut is used to set up asuitable tension on the spring, and thus frictionally restrain the movement ofY the stud, and so prevent the spool from overrunning. Similar parts create a frictional resistance to the shaft 646 and its spool. Each spool is providedwith a reversing device P, in which is a ratchet-wheel 685, connectedy with the adjacent spool, and a pawl which maybe automatically thrown into and out of engagethe other spool.

ment with the ratchet. A lever consisting 5o of separated plates 601 and 602, connected by studs or rivets, oscillates about the axis of each ratchet-wheel, and between the plates isa pawl 676, Fig. 2, in position to engage the ratchet-wheel.l Each pawl is supported on a movable pivot 632, guided in slots 632b in the plates 601 and 602. The pivot is normally held in either eXtreme position by a spring 634i, which presses inward a rod 634,

having a stud 633, guided by slots 633L in the 6o plates 601 and 602, and a link 632a connects each stud 633 to the pivot-stud 632, which carries the pawl.

The ratchet-wheels 685 of the two reversing devices P have their teeth facing in opposite directions, and the pawl-pivots 632 are connected by a link 603, which keeps the pivots .at a uniform distance fromeach other and secures the harmonious but alternate action ofthe pawls. The two reversing-levers are 7o Vconnected by a link 604, and an arm 600 on the inner lever-plate 601, is connected by a link 613 to an arm 902 on a rock-shaft 922. The slots 632b in the plates 601 and 602, which guide the pawl-pivot studs, are preferably of the angular form' shown, with the ends equally distant from the center of the ratchetwheels and the apex of the angle-at a greater distance. The link 603, connecting the pawlpivot studs is of a length proper to position 8o the pawl-pivots thesarne distance apart as the centers ofthe ratchet-wheels. Only one pawl is in position to engage its ratchet-wheel at a time, andtheworking pawl is held in position by the action of the spring 634a on the rod'634. With the working pawl in position the other pawl is held away by the action of the spring holding the pivot, one end of the slot with the pawl lifted and held out of contact with the ratchet by a studor pin 9o 630, suitably placed inthe plate 602, to be engaged by the tail 6176a of the pawl.

A ribbon is placed on one spooland conducted through the guides and attached to Assuming the working pawl to be the one coacting with the ratchet-Wheel adjacent to the lower spool when the machine is operated, causing the main rockshaft 922 to oscillate, the link 613, connected to which the ends of the ribbon are connected,

to the plate 601, will oscillate the lever, and thereby cause the pawl to turn the ratchetwheel and spool step by step, thereby winding the ribbon on it against the friction applied to the other spool. This tension results in keeping the ribbon taut. When the ribbon is all wound off one spool, the ribbon will become so taut that the spools Vwill not turn, and the ratchets thereof remain practically stationary. When the pawl adjacent to the full spool on the next movement engages the ratchet thereof, said pawl, as it cannot turn the ratchet nor swing with the oscillating lever, will remain relatively stationary, and as the leverl swings down the pivot of the said pawl slides to the otherend of the slot 632", and the pawl bycontact with the stud G is thrown out of engagement with its ratchet, and the connected pawl is thrown into engagement with the ratchet of the empty spool and begins to turn thelatter.

The plates 500R and 500L may be supported upon the machine in any suitable manner and may serve as supports for other parts of the machine.

lVithout limiting myself to the details of construction illustrated and described, I claiml. In a ribbon-feeding mechanism, the combination of two rotary spools independently supported to turn about stationary axes, means for alternately and positively rotating said spools, and means whereby either spool when in a fixed position resists the movement of one of the parts to thereby shift the operating means into action on the other spool, substantially as set forth.

2. In a ribbon-feeding mechanism, the combination of two rotary spools independently supported to turn about stationary axes, independent means for rotating the respective spools, a connection between said rotating means acting to hold one of said rotating means in operative relation with its -spool when the other is out of operative relation with its spool, and means operated from either spool when in aflxed position for moving the said connection to change the relative positions of the two rotating means, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination ofthe ribbon,two spools a ratchet connected with each spool, a lever and pawl for engaging each ratchet supported on a movable pivot, and means for throwing the pawl out of action when the spool becomes stationary and thereby throwing the con nected pawl into action on the other spool, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the ribbon,two spools to which' the ends of the ribbon are connected, a ratchet connected with each spool, a lever and pawl for engaging each ratchet supported on a movable pivot, means for throwing either pawl out of action when the adjacent spool is stationary, and connections between the pawls to shift them into and out of action alternately, substantially as set forth.

5. In a ribbon-feed mechanism, the combination of two rotary spools independently supported, a ratchet-wheel connected to each spool, levers carrying pawls for operating the spools, a movable pivot for each pawl, a link connecting said pivots and holding one pawl in operative relation to its wheel and the other pawl out of operative relation to its wheel, and means for operating the oscillating frames, substantially as set forth.

6. In a ribbon -feeding mechanism, two spools supported for independent rotation, a ratchet-wheel connected to each spool and the teeth of one of saidratchet-wheels facing oppositely to those of the other, levers supported to oscillate about the axes of the wheels, a movable pivot carried with each lever, a pawl connected to each pivot and adapted to engage the adjacent ratchet-wheel, a link connecting said pivots whereby 011e pawl is in engagement with its wheel when the otheris out of engagement with its wheel, springs engaging said pawls, and means for oscillating said frames, and for shifting the relative position of the pawls when either wheel ceases to rotate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. PIKE, JR.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR PENrEoosr, BYRON E. BROWN. 

